Flight,

I'm starting with my arrival at Ft.Dix, NJ. This was one of the staging places for processing GI's before leaving to go to Nam. These are all to Lorraine my girlfriend (Now Wife of 35 years). I had just finished a 30 day R&R. My mother drove me from Maryland to Dix my Dad said he had to work. I felt bad leaving my mom with a long drive home alone but she would not have it any other way.

The lettrs I sent to my parents were destroyed in 1970 after my mother died. I kind of went a little nuts over that.

I feel like I,m about to relive a year in my life.

Tom Gator 851.

September 27, 1966

Dear Lorraine,

Hi Honey. I hope this letter finds you in good spirits. I am still at Ft Dix, NJ in temporary Barracks. The word is that it takes about 5 days to process a person before shipping out to Nam. Had a physical today and quite a few shots. I’m not even in Nam yet and am getting nervous. I guess it’s the waiting. I don’t know any one here and there is only a few of us with 67N20 ratings. Still do not know where I will be assigned when I get to Nam. I hope its not somewhere boring. I would like to be able to do my part. The thought of being away for a year is depressing and it’s only been 48 hours since I last kissed you. As the Beach Boys Song goes “God only knows how much I love you".

The waiting gives me too much time to think of what might happen in the year to come. I know I will change and not knowing how is a concern. Here I am already thinking of what I will be like when my year is up and I haven’t left yet. I’m sure we will need some time to adjust to each other again but not as much as I think. If our love is real then we have something that time can’t erase. Love is not easily forgotten.

I hope school is going well for you and your course load won’t be too much to handle. One good thing is you will not have me to distract you from your studies. If you get home on weekends please try to find some time to stop by and see my Mother she is a nervous wreck and my Dad is too but he doesn’t show it. That’s the FBI man for you. My mom thinks the world of you and I know it will help her.

When I get settled in Vietnam I will send you my address. No sense in writing till there is somewhere to send it. That’s all for now.

Love Tom